Trump Announces US Team for Negotiations in Ukraine-Russia Conflict
Former President Donald Trump has assembled a team of four high-level US officials to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has raged since February 2022. The team includes:
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Director of the CIA John Ratcliffe
- National Security Advisor Michael Waltz
- Ambassador and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
Key Figures in the Team
Steve Witkoff:
Witkoff is a prominent real estate mogul who founded the Witkoff Group in 1997. He played a pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel before Trump took office. Additionally, he recently traveled to Russia to secure the release of US citizen Marc Fogel from Russian custody.
Mike Waltz:
Waltz, a retired Green Beret and decorated colonel, served as a Republican US congressman representing Florida from 2019 to 2025. He is a strong advocate for ending the war in Ukraine and has had discussions with global leaders on this matter.
John Ratcliffe:
Ratcliffe, a former US representative and Director of National Intelligence, has extensive experience in national security and intelligence matters. He believes that the US must leverage technology to remain competitive against nations like Russia and China.
Marco Rubio:
Rubio, a prominent Republican senator, has served as a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference.
Negotiations and Trump’s Involvement
Trump announced that the team would begin negotiations immediately and expressed optimism that a ceasefire could be reached in the near future. He also stated that both Putin and Zelenskyy are eager for a peace deal.
According to Trump, Russia agreed to the negotiations after he spoke with Putin on Wednesday. The former president has repeatedly claimed that if he had been in office, the war in Ukraine would never have occurred.
White House Response
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged the negotiations and stated that the US considers Russia a "great competitor" and sometimes an adversary. However, she emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomatic relations and finding common ground.
Conclusion
As the US team embarks on these negotiations, it remains to be seen whether a peaceful resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine can be achieved. The outcome of these negotiations will have significant implications for the stability of the region and the broader geopolitical landscape.
